MNAFEE Fall Workshop

MNAFEE Fall 2024 Workshop
November 1 - Noon - 4 p.m. - Virtual workshop via Zoom

Join us for an engaging half-day virtual workshop focused on the future of Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and how programs can plan for long-term success in the next 50 years. This interactive workshop will provide practical strategies, insights, and resources to help your program not only make an impact but thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

Make plans to attend—this is a workshop you won’t want to miss! With our new reduced price of $49 for members or $99 for non-members, it’s an affordable opportunity to gain valuable insights and build your professional network.

Register Now!

Workshop Schedule

Time	What	Who
12 - 12:10 a.m.	Welcome and Announcements	Lisa Helgestad, MNAFEE Fall 2024 Workshop Chair
12:10 - 12:30 p.m.	MNAFEE Committee Share Advocacy Annual Awards Annual Conference Board of Directors Nomination Communications ECFE 50th Anniversary Fall Workshop Membership	Each Committee Chair Gretchen Dullinger Nancy Wallace Sarah Holmboe Nancy Wallace Mischelle Squire Lisa Helgestad Lisa Helgestad Stephanie Berwald
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.	Listening Session with the new MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families A chance for Darcy Rodriguez and Mi Yang (New statewide ECFE staff) to hear what is happening in the field. Participants will get to share their successes, challenges and needs around ECFE in their district. Participants will learn about the roles of the ECFE team at the state.	Mi Yang and Darcy Rodriguez, ECFE Specialists at DCYF Mi Yang has 25 years of Parent Education and Early Childhood work in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Most recently, Mi was a District Program Facilitator in Minneapolis where she led PreK-3rd Parent Education, Transition, and Home Visiting, as well as supported ECFE programming, Parent Educators and Early Childhood Teachers. Darcy Rodriguez is licensed in Parent Education and worked for 8-years as a Family Educator and Family Engagement Coordinator for Stillwater Public Schools. Most recently, after receiving her administrative license, she has been supporting White Bear Lake Area Schools as their district Early Childhood Coordinator.
1:30 - 1:45 p.m.	Break - View Regional Stories
1:45 - 2:15 p.m.	Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework - Building Consistency in Practice Participants will renew their commitment to using the PECCF as they build their ILPs (Integrated Lesson Plans). Participants will gain insight into next steps in making the PECCF user friendly within the field (which may include utilizing lesson plan templates, a repository for resources and lesson plans, and professional development). Participants will share ideas with colleagues.	Melissa Denning, M.Ed., Nicki Murphy, M.Ed., Shannon Rader, PhD Melissa Denning, M.Ed. Parent Educator and Early Childhood Teacher at St. Francis Area Schools Nicki Murphy, M.Ed. Parent Educator and Home Visitor within Robbinsdale Area Schools and the Helping Us Grow Program Shannon Rader, PhD, Director of University of Minnesota Parent and Family Education Program
2:15 - 2:30 p.m.	Small Group Reflection	An opportunity for participants to engage in focused discussions, share insights, and explore how to apply key workshop concepts in their own programs.
2:30 - 3:00 p.m.	ECFE Updates from Department of Children Youth and Families This presentation will focus on key work happening in ECFE to prepare us for the future: Prek to Grade 3 Alignment with current legislation Needs assessment to increase engagement	Mike Brown, Ed.D. Early Learning Services MN Department of Children, Youth and Families
3 - 3:15 p.m.	Small Group Reflection	An opportunity for participants to engage in focused discussions, share insights, and explore how to apply key workshop concepts in their own programs.
3:15 - 3:50 p.m.	READ Act and Early Childhood This presentation provides an update on how the READ Act impacts early childhood programs and offers a brief overview of best practices and resources.	Lucy Arias M.Ed., MA in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development Lucy Arias is the Early Language and Literacy Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education. She earned her BS in Child Psychology and M.Ed. in Parent and Family Education from the University of Minnesota. Her career in early childhood spans 30 years and includes being a classroom teacher, program director, researcher, family educator, and advocate.
3:50 - 4 p.m.	Closing - feedback and CEU’s	Lisa Helgestad

Workshop Highlights

1. Listening Session with the new MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Participants will have the opportunity to share their successes, challenges, and needs around ECFE in their district.
Gain valuable insights into the roles of the ECFE team at the state level and learn how their work impacts your program

2. Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework Update

Discover how this dynamic tool has been used across Minnesota and beyond, and learn best practices for integrating it into your own program to enhance parent education.

3. Updates from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Hear the latest updates on the department’s services, policies, and initiatives. The department is committed to fostering transparent and effective communication, and this session will provide critical information to support your work.

4. READ Act and Early Childhood

Understand the impact of the READ Act on Early Childhood programs and gain access to best practices and resources that can support your teaching and literacy efforts.

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